he households of the victims of a Co Monaghan street crash are “hugely devastated” and affected by shock, whereas their college group has been overcome with “profound sadness and grief”.

Two teenage women died and three others had been injured whereas on the way in which to a Debs ball when the automobile they had been travelling in crashed right into a tree on the aspect of the N54, simply outdoors Clones.

The teenage women have been named as 16-year-old Dalava Mohammed and 17-year-old Kiea McCann.

An 18-year-old lady is in a vital however steady situation at Cavan General Hospital, whereas a 60-year-old man stays in a vital situation in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

An 18-year-old man additionally suffered non life-threatening accidents.

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The scene on the N54 Clones to Smithborough street at Legnakelly was closed within the 24 hours after the crash happened, earlier than being reopened on Tuesday night following a forensic examination of the scene.

Superintendent Patrick O’Connell mentioned that gardai and the households of the victims are “eternally grateful” to members of the general public who stopped to provide help on the scene of the crash.

He additionally thanked the “brilliant” first responders who attended the “harrowing scene” on Monday night time.

“This was a particularly traumatic incident for everyone involved and I wish to acknowledge and thank all of the first responders who worked closely together – particularly members of An Garda Siochana, members of the ambulance and fire service, the hospital staff, and indeed members of the public who stopped to render assistance,” he mentioned.

Principal of Largy College Sharon Magennis expressed her “deepest sympathies” to the households and associates of Dalava Mohammed and Kiea McCann.

She additionally expressed her gratitude to the primary responders and gardai who responded to the incident and mentioned their precedence would now be on “the wellbeing and welfare of the students, parents and staff at this difficult time”.

Ms Magennis mentioned in a press release: “It is with profound sadness and grief that we have learned about the devastating accident that resulted in the untimely and tragic loss of two cherished members of our school community.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends who have tragically lost loved ones.

“The other individuals involved in the accident also remain in our thoughts and prayers at this time.”

She added: “We are grateful to the public for their deeply felt expression of support and ask that we be given the time and space to concentrate on supporting those in the school community who are most in need.”

Visiting Largy College on Tuesday, Social Protection Minister and native TD Heather Humphreys mentioned that there was “a cloud over the town of Cones” and mentioned that individuals really feel “upset” and “numb” by the tragedy.

“It’s not easy because up in The Diamond (town square in Clones), the children last night all got ready, the girls especially were in their dresses and they were all ready for a great night out and it all, unfortunately, ended in tragedy.”

She mentioned she had met among the employees of the varsity.

“It is every parent’s worst nightmare because nobody expects to get that phone call.

“One of the parents was on the football field last night and she got the call to go.

“It’s just the shock and to think that this could happen to any child. And I know that many parents across the country are thinking all our children going to Debs, they start off a night full of fun and joy and then it ends up in tragedy.”

Sinn Fein TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Matt Carthy, informed the PA news company that it was “one of those moments where time stops still”.

“The local community here, as they do, rallied immediately offering support for the families, in the immediate instance to the young people who were attending the Debs,” he mentioned.

“You can imagine the scenes in many houses and gatherings in advance of that as young people were getting dresses and make-up and hair and suits and all the things that you associated with what should be a very special occasion, and then they arrived, in some instances, to the Westenra Hotel not aware of what had happened – to learn that two of their friends had passed away and that others were in critical conditions in hospital.”

Superintendent O’Connell mentioned a senior investigating officer had been appointed and a case convention had been held at Monaghan Garda Station, however couldn't give particulars of the main focus of the Garda investigation.

“We are appealing for information and our primary concern at the moment is to support the families of those affected. But our investigation will progress at pace,” he mentioned.

Gardai are interesting to individuals who witnessed or have footage of the incident, which happened on a stretch of the N54 between Clones and Smithborough on Monday between 6.15pm and 7pm, to get in contact with Gardai.